When we travel our utmost priority is to collect the memories and store them deep inside our hearts. Another way to stay in touch with our travel trips is to bring souvenirs which not only remind us of our travel adventure but creates a space in our hearts.
Souvenirs are a perfect gift we can gift ourselves and our loved ones while we travel to any destination. They are the resemblance of history and its little secrets and peculiarities that are typical to it. Each souvenir has its story to tell.
India being a diverse country with 28 states and infinite cultures and historical significance has an unlimited amount of things to carry while you are in the country. From the land of desserts to the Himalayas and the most beautiful Islands India is a country of rich traditions and diversity.
Here is a list of 10 souvenirs you must collect while visiting INDIA:
1. Traditional Sarees
Sarees are the most famous, traditional dress in India. Sarees come in 25 different designs and textures. Each region of the country has its own type of saree.
Made with intensive labour and brilliant handwork, silk saris are both a unique piece of Indian culture and a luxurious souvenir to take back.
Chanderi sarees are amongst the best examples of handloom in India. The transparency and the luster of the material make it stand apart from other handloom products in India.
Apart from these, you can find Georgette sarees, Banarasi sarees, Murshidabad silk, Assam Silk, Kanjeevaram sarees, Mysore silks, Patola etc.
2. Shawls
One of the most beautiful and delicate souvenirs in India that you can take home is the Pashmina. The Pashmina shawls from Kashmir. Today Pashmina is synonymous with soft shawls also known as cashmere.
Pashmina wool comes from a special breed of goats reared mainly in Kashmir and Ladakh areas. Cashmere wool can also come from the fine undercoat of goats raised in other areas.
3. Candles from Nainital
The town of 9 lakes is also famous for its candles. The fragrant and homemade candles from Nainital are great souvenirs to take home and give to your loved ones. The candles symbolize light in the darkness of life, especially individual life, hence they account for great souvenirs to collect from Nainital.
4. Sandalwood products
The sandalwood products from Mysore like sandalwood soaps and other sandalwood products which can be used for skin treatments and application of 'chandan' or sandalwood is said to cool down your head and body temperature.
5. Spices and pickles
Spices like red chillis, peppercorns, cumin, ginger, cardamom or garam masala are the heartbeat of India.
The ayurvedic oils are another specific thing for Indian culture that helps out your skin and hair to grow and keep them hydrated which inturn nourishes them.
6. Aroma Oils and Ayurvedic products
Aromatherapy is a holistic treatment that uses aromatic materials, most essential oils and aroma compounds. Besides essential oils, a wide range of products like aromatherapy candles, diffusers, soaps, bathing salts, body lotions, and clay masks are available in India to help in easing stress and boost energy.
The most popular essential oils in India are ginger, peppermint, geranium, cypress, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, and cedarwood.
Also, ayurvedic products claim to cure and prevent health issues in the course of time with no side effects. They play a major role as beauty products as well.
Ayurvedic products do not contain unnatural chemicals and are instead made from natural herbs. The most common ingredients found in these products are aloe vera, bael fruit, ginger, turmeric, vanilla, basil, blue lotus, sandalwood, coconut oil, and shea butter.
7. Indian Tea
Indian tea is one of the best in the entire world. The tea from different regions of the Indian state have their own significance and taste. The team from Darjeeling, the Assam tea leaves, the Kahwa from Kashmir, the Ginger tea and numerous methods of preparation makes Indian tea the most unique and authentic. Hence, gift your loved ones the Indian tea and in no time they will be chai lovers just like other people around the country.
8. Traditional paintings
The diversity of Indian art and craft can be seen in the various vivid and distinct painting forms found in India. Madhubani paintings: Folk painting originated in Mithila, Bihar.
Warli Paintings: 2500-year-old traditional paintings originated in the Thane and Nasik areas of Maharashtra inked with nature and social rituals of the tribe.
Kalighat Painting or Bengal Pat: Originated in the 19th century in the Kalighat area of Calcutta.
Phad: Narrative scroll painting from Rajasthan dating back thousands of years.
Kalamkari Painting: It is the 3000-year-old organic art of hand and blocks painting that originated in Andhra Pradesh.
Miniature Painting: A distinct style combining Islamic, Persian and Indian elements, miniature paintings.
Thangka: Thangka paintings are mainly used as an aid in meditational practices among Tibetan schools of Buddhism.
9. Antique jewellery
Antique jewellery from different parts of India like Himachal Pradesh (Kasol), Jaipur, and Other parts of Rajasthan is one of the most loved things by women. Starting from bangles, necklaces, earrings, nose pins, bracelets made of Gold, silver, metals, wood, bamboo and terracotta are also used to make jewellery.
10. Blue Pottery
The blue pottery is unique in appearance and is made of a special dough prepared by mixing quartz stone powder, powdered glass, Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth), borax, gum and water. The blue colour derived from cobalt oxide, green colour from copper oxide and other unconventional colours are used to adorn these potteries.
The patterns are said to have originated from Persia, but now contemporary patterns including floral, geometric designs, animals and birds and Indian deities are used.
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